Portable lamp



w u Z 4, 4 U 2 j ll/1/ n, u. 2 nl @al W. F. LITTLE` PORTABLE LAMP Filed Aug. 26.,n 1959 Aug. 12, 1941.

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 12, 1941 PORTABLE LAMP William F. Little, Yonkers, N. Y., assgnor to Electrical Testing Laboratories, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application August 26, 1939, ScrialNo. 292,046

(Cl. 24U- 81) 9 Claims.

The present invention relates to portable lamps.

The ordinary methods employed in constructing portable lamps, particularly floor lamps and other high wattage lamps, have been found to be objectionableon account of the likelihood, especially where workmanship is not of the best, of heating of the wiring and connections for supplying current to the lamp socket.

The present invention contemplates improvements in lamp construction whereby adequate ventilation may be provided through the splicing chamber and about the socket terminals and socket so that all these parts shall have a satisfactory low temperature rise.

According to the ordinary methods of lamp construction the housing or body which supports the socket cover and the arms for side lamps is made of sheet metal and' is provided with a drawn tubular portion threaded to receive the threads on the pipe forming part of the lamp standard, or a drawn sheet metal coupling member is used for the same purpose. Owing to the dimensions of theY parts it is impossible to provide a sufficient number of threads on the sheet metal to rigidly secure the stamping to the pipe.

The present invention contemplates providing the stamped shell with a coupling member preferably a die casting having a stepped threaded hole to receive suilicient threads on the pipe so that these parts can be very securely fastened together, as well as the use of a set screw to prevent any nnscrewing of the pipe.

According `to the common methods of constructing portable lamps, the current supply cord is carried down through a pipe and out under the lamp base, usually through an opening. With this construction any strain on the current supply cord will pull the cord against the side of the pipe tending lto produce wear, cutting, and early failure of the lamp cord with possible short circuiting. Furthermore some of the tension on the lamp cord is transmitted up through the lamp cord to the splices or socket connections.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a strain relieving clamp which also protects the cord against chaiing or wear.

Other and further objects will hereinafter appear as the description proceeds.

The 'accompanying drawing shows, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, several embodiments in. which the invention may take form, it being understood 'that the drawing is illustrative of the invention rather than limitin the same. Y

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, on line I-I of Figure 2, through a portable lamp embodying the present invention, parts being omitted;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View of a modied form of head construction for portable lamp; Y

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the broken line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figures 5 and 6 are fragmentary views illustrating further modied forms of construction.

A lamp base I Il has a threaded hole II to receive the threaded lower end I2 of a pipe I3. The threaded end extends below the base I0 and receives a threaded jam nut I4 adapted to force a tapered split bushing I5 of insulating material upwardly so as to secure the current supply wire I8 in place so that strain is relieved.

Theupper end of the `wire `receiving pipe is provided with a long threaded portion 20 as indicated-in Figure 1, and may be surrounded by lthe usual ornamental tubing 2| held in place view on the line between the washers 22 and 23.

The threaded pipe is secured to the head I-I of the lamp. As here shown the lowerpart of` the head of the lamp is in the form of a drawn tublular body member 24 apertured as indicated It is secured to a die cast tubular coupling member 25 by outwardly flanging the lower part of the casting, as indicated at 26. This coupling member has a long, downwardly opening, threaded socket A27 adapted to receive a number of the threads 20 on the top of the pipe i3. In practice the pipe is threaded in as tightly as possible and a set screw 28 is employed to prevent unloosening of the pipe. This set screw may have a square drifted opening 28' (Figure 3) in the end to receive a wrench indicated in dotted lines at 29. The lower part of the member 24 has a numerous vetnilation openings ilil arranged about the central opening which receives the coupling member, so that air can enter into the bottom of the head of 'the lamp to cool the splices and contacts. One of these openingsr is available for the wrench 29.

stamping is secured in place by screws indicated at 34 and has inwardly extending lugs 35 and 36 to receive the supporting screws 31 and 38 of a lamp socket 39. The binding posts are indicated at 4|] and 4I. The socket cover 33 is spaced from the socket so as to provide an annular ventilation channel 42. The stamping 24 has an opening 43 elongated vertically to nonrotatably receive the non-circular stem of the rotary switch indicated at 44 in Figure 4.

For clearness, the drawing omits the usual splicing arrangements whereby the two wires from the terminals 40 and 4I, the three pairs of wires from the arms 32, and the leads from the switch are interconnected with one another and the current supply cord I8. These splices take up considerable room and in the ordinary lamp construction impede and practically block off all circulation of air.

As here shown the upwardly extending coupling member 25 provides an annular space into which the splices may be pushed, but all paslsage of air cannot be choked off because the splices will not enter into the grooves between the cooling fins. Hence air can pass through the ventilation openings, up through the grooves between the cooling fins and be directed toward the wires coming down from the main socket terminals, as well as against these terminals, so thatthese wiresand terminals are cooled. Furthermore the main supply wires I8 are in close contact with the coupling member for a substantial distance, and hence the heat conducted downwardly through these wires is transmitted to the4 heavy metal body of the coupling member.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4 the stamping 45 is similar to the stamping 24, but shorter, and the socket cover element 46 is similar to the element 33 of Figure 1 but made longer, and these two parts are secured together iwardly so as to receive a funnel shaped stamping 54. This funnel forms a chamber for the splices. Instead of using the long coupling member 25 this form of construction employs a short coupling member 55 without the cooling ns and upward extension. With this arrangement the air drawn in through the openings 36 'at the bottom of tlie stamping is carried up through the funnel 54 and directed as a blast against the wires and binding posts.

The arrangement shown in Figure 6 is intended for lamps of the type having the Mogul base lamp socket, but without the candle arms. In this case the stamping 6|] is shorter than the stampings previously described, but is provided with the ventilation openings 6| and the short coupling member 62. The socket cover is indidicated at 63 and the socket at 64. It will be seen that the terminals of the socket are brought down very close to the air drawn in through the openings 6I and that this air can pass up about the outside of the socket.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in various forms and constructions within 'the scope of the claims and I wish it to be understood that the particular forms shown are illustrative. Various modications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a portable lamp, an upwardly extending pipe for current supply wires having a threaded upper end, and a head having a sheet metal body with a central hole in the bottom larger than the outside diameter of the pipe, and a plurality of ventilation openings about the central hole, and

a coaxial tubular coupling member whose lower end is non-rotatably secured to the body, the coupling extending above said hole and having -a stepped b'ore with a downwardly facing shoulder Vwherein the coupling member is close to the wires so as to conduct heat away from the wires and cool the same and extends a substantial distance above the end of the pipe to form an annular splicing chamber and has ins to provide air passages into which the splices do not enter.

4. A portable lamp such as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body supports an axially disposed upwardly opening lamp socket and a plurality of outwardly extending arms spaced below the lamp socket and provides a splicing chamber, and

'wherein the coupling member extends a substantial distance above the end of the pipe to 'form an annular splicing chamber and has l'ins to provide air passages into which the splices do not enter. Y Y

5. A portable lamp such as claimed in claim 1,

' having an Yair tube 'extending upwardly from adjacent the ventilation openings and inwardly so asto passy the airjtoward the axisof the body 'head to extend above the central opening, the

tubular member having a downwardly opening threaded socket to receive a pipe and a bore to Vform a wire protecting passageway in continuation of the bore of the pipe, said tubular member, in conjunction with said Ventilating openings, forming a cooling means for conducting wires in `said passageway.

'7. A portable lamp such as claimed in claim V6, wherein the tubular member is adapted to be in close contact with wiresV in the wireway and has substantial radiating surface above the ventilation openings whereby the wiring is cooled. l

8. A portable lamp having an upwardly opening head including a socket cover and having a bottom provided with a central opening and a plurality of ventilation openings, an upwardly opening lamp socket having wire receiving terminals in the bottom, the socket being mounted within the socket cover and spaced from it so that air may pass freely up between the socket and cover, a plurality of outwardly extending wire receiving arms secured to the head a substantial distance below the socket, and an axially disposed coupling secured in the central opening and extending upwardly toward the socket to provide an annular chamber for splices, the outer surface having cooling ns and air ducts to direct air up toward the bottom of the socket.

9. A portable lamp having an upwardly opening head including a socket cover and having a bottom provided with a central opening and a plurality of ventilation openings, an upwardly opening lamp socket h-aving wire receiving terminals in the bottom, the socket being mounted within the socket cover and spaced from it so that air may pass freely up between the socket and cover, a plurality of outwardly extending wire receiving arms secured to the head a substantial distance below the socket, an axially disposed coupling secured in the central opening, and an air tube extending upwardly from adjacent the ventilation openings and inwardly to provide a flue and an annular chamber for splices.

F. LITTLE. 

